CAMPERS' ESCAPE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21744, 8 March 1934, Page 10

CAMPERS' ESCAPE

'GROUND TURNS TO BOG ORDEAL ON HILLSIDE RIDE BLANKET SHELTER jl'ltfs; TELEGRAPH—OWN CORRESPONDENT] PALMERSTON NORTH, Wednesday The campers from Palmerston North who ware sleeping on the old river bed ftak at Foxton when the earthquake occiuirrod on Monday night, and had to make a rush for high ground, have returned homo. One of them, Mr. A. T. Humphrey, isaid columns of water about a foot high spouted out of the ground and tie party was nearly choked by what hms thought to be sulphur fumes. The-ground was perceptibly softening and thjy were already over their ankles in, soft material. A sudden onrush of water gave the impression of an advanoini; tidal wavo and they all rushed out) of the tent, up to their knees in mud and water. They crossed safely to a Mil close by. Their car had sunk over its running boards in water.

They went further up the hill, tied one blanket to some trees and crouched together in its shelter until the morning;. The hill rocked like a boat practically continuously and their vantage point was invaded by many hedgehogs and rats.

When daylight came Mr. Humphrey descended to the flat and fathomed the depth >)f : the soft material with a stick until ho found a crossing several chains wide, which the party traversed to firmer ground. A settler to whom they related thoir experience tested tho ground for himself and soon sank to his hips.

BUILDING REGULATIONS, I-ARTHQUAKIi PROTECTION EXPLANATION BY MR. FORBES [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS association] "WELLINGTON, Wednesday . Interviewed in reference to the drawing up of building regulations controlling the design and construction of buildings in relation to their response to earthquake shocks, the Prime Minister, the lit. Hon. G. W. Forbes, stated to-day that the intention was to co-oporato with local authorities in protecting the lives and property of their citizens.

The arrangement was that the New Zealand Standards Institution should appoint a special committee consisting oi : representatives of the Government, technical engineers, architects and local {.uthorities, to frame suitable regulations. Thes«i would be supplied to borough councils with a request that they b j incorporated in the by-laws. In the event of non-compliance with the request, th« Government had power, under the Finance Act, 1931, section 41, and would see that this w.Ets enforced, particularly in those areas which had a known seismic history. - It would be appreciated that the elaboration of suitable by-laws to cover the point at issue was a difficult matte)-, 'in view of the necessity for economy in construction and at the same t'.me affording adequate protections!. Several municipal authorities had already expressed a desire that the work involved in formulating such ccdesi should be done by co-operative action rather than by individual municipalities. The Government was determined that adequate provision should be made for the nafoty of public buildings against earthquake damage and the protection of the public.' Enforcement of the bylaws would be the responsibility of the local authorities.